Montreal, part 2 (Saturday)

Well, I'm sure you've just been checking your computers every 5 minutes waiting for the next installment of our vacation saga, so here it is! Saturday was the day Matt and Ryan had looked forward to the most, and it was quite an emotional day from start to finish for them. What a miracle to come to the little area of Longueuil (pronounced kind of like long-oy) where they had worked and toiled so hard and had 6 baptisms in one month which for that area was pretty miraculous for the area. And lo and behold now there is a temple there. We were able to do a session there and it was completely in French. Having been to the temple hundreds of times and knowing a little French myself, I at first said I didn't need the headphones (English translations) but then when they were offered again at the last minute, I accepted, and boy I was so grateful! It was so beautiful to hear the session in French, but to have the translation confirming the meaning of the words really made it powerful for me too. The session was completely full which gave us a great feeling as well. Matt and Ryan also ran into several members they had known from Trois Rivieres (Three Rivers) which is 1 1/2 hrs away, therefore they got to see other members that they didn't plan on having the privilege of seeing. All in all what a miracle the gospel is! Lucette, a sweet member, bought the little flags and trinkets and drove us all over town after the session, taking the guys along the familiar streets. She later drove us to the ferry which would take us across the St. Laurent River into the old Montreal. Forgive my order, I am challenged that way and I have a difficult time moving the pictures around. So the first are the ferry, and then the temple, which was not the way it happened but you get the idea.

This is the part where I am smiling but I am thinking "I am so freakin' cold...why oh why didn't I stick in a jacket??"

This is on the bus on the way to Marie Helene's house later. Again, out of order. Sorry.

Lucette is the little lady in the middle in the picture below; I assure you what she lacks in stature she makes up for in heart. She is also a singer too, so we were kindred spirits in that way.

Here's the apt Matt and Ryan shared. The house is still owned by the same sweet lady, and the sister missionaries live there now. Her son is now living there temporarily because his house burned down just a few weeks ago. C'est un tragedie!

Next Lucette took us to the ferry.

Here is the Cathedral of Notre Dame, a georgeous Catholic church downtown.

It is so beautiful inside with the huge vaulted ceilings, and it honestly takes every ounce of self control not to sing inside. I don't want to belt anything out, but I just want to sing a simple hymn in my best boy soprano voice and hear the reverb. There were people praying though so I refrained.

Here's Matt by a part of the original stone wall that was built around the city in the early 1600's to fortify the city and protect it from attacks, mainly from the English.

Here is Shannon and I. We are standing in "Jaque Cartier Square" named after the explorer who first settled Montreal. I could be wrong, but if Matt has a problem with my historical facts I'll just remind him that he's welcome to blog this himself. :)

Matt is standing on the street in Old Montreal. I just loved this section,

I felt like I was in Europe.

Here I am standing on a similar street

Self explanatory

Even though my head is cut off, this is a favorite picture. Because we couldn't go all the way back to our bed and breakfast, we had our temple clothes and dress clothes in this dumb suitcase, and had to drag it all over Montreal all day. Seriously, a real drag, pun intended.

Matt and I loved the stonework everywhere.

A cute sign with the geraniums.

Next we had dinner with Marie-Helene and Marc. Marie-Helene was baptized when Matt and Ryan were there, and have remained good friends ever since. What great hospitality, who'd have guessed that the best quacamole I've ever had (EVER) would be in Canada? Weird. The house was over 100 years old and so charming I could barely stand it! Afterward we played the Wii which made the boys feel pretty at-home, and I won't deny I do enjoy a little Rock Band on occasion.

So we all went home exhausted but satisfied after another wonderful day! More tomrrow (hopefully).